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Safe Kids Worldwide is hosting our Child Injury Prevention Convention, PREVCON, this week in Washington D.C. The convention brings together injury prevention leaders and advocates from across the United States and around the world.

As I write this with shaking hands, I know that shot that will haunt me for the rest of my life. But that’s OK. Because that shot also reminds me of my teammates, the importance of sticking together no matter what and the amazing feeling you get when you’re part of a team. It’s the same feeling I recognized in the faces of the U.S. women’s soccer team. And it’s a feeling that I hope every athlete – boy or girl – can experience.

Safe Kids is working with the Tide and Gain Up, Up, and Away Laundry Safety Program to raise awareness about a real concern for parents. Since 2012, more than 33,000 calls have been placed to the Poison Help line about liquid laundry packets. That's about 30 calls a day and it caught our attention.

As part of the #SaveKidsLives campaign, Safe Kids Union County joined together with our community partners, including Fire Departments, Local Law Enforcement, Union County Health Department, Carolinas HealthCare System Union, and local officials to raise awareness and keep kids safe on the road. Together, we shared the Child Declaration to teach children about the importance of road safety and how to stay safe on our roads.

It’s no secret that teens and pre-teens are often distracted by technology: texting, listening to music, playing games. This becomes a particular safety issue when students cross the street while distracted. In fact, last year alone 274 kids ages 10-19 were killed while walking. How do we get these teens to listen to safety tips? It’s definitely a challenge. We turned to the teens themselves to ask how they would do it. And that’s how the Take Action Against Distraction Contest was born.

Since 2012 when liquid laundry packets began gaining traction in the market, more than 33,000 calls for children 5 and under have been reported to poison centers about children getting into liquid laundry packets. That’s more than 30 children every single day.

I started interning at Safe Kids Worldwide about three weeks ago. Since then I’ve learned many things. I’ve learned that drinking one 20 ounce bottle of Coke is equivalent to eating 18 cookies – so it’s not the best way to hydrate when playing sports. I’ve learned that the Starbucks Baristas in our building will write down whatever they think they heard when they ask for your name. My name is Kendall Reed but based on my frappuccino order, you can call me “Q.” And I’ve learned that knowing how “not to drown” is not good enough when it comes to water safety.

Did you know learning CPR can triple the chance of survival for someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)? Yet, according to the American Heart Association, 70 percent of Americans may feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency due to lack of education or training.

National CPR & AED Awareness week (June 1-7) is a perfect time to learn more about how to prevent sudden cardiac arrest and the steps you can take if someone around you needs help.

With the speed camera, drivers will have an added incentive to slow down and hopefully be more aware of pedestrians crossing the street. I know speed cameras and red light cameras, collectively called safety cameras, are controversial, but these technologies work. They help to make us better drivers and lives are saved.

For too long, global road safety has not received the priority it deserves, especially when it comes to the needs of children. Not only are children at high risk in vehicles, on bicycles, and in some countries on motorcycles, they are vulnerable as pedestrians and are often injured or killed in the simple act of walking to school.

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About Our Blog

The Safe Kids blog covers a wide range of safety topics, offering valuable tips for parents and caregivers to help you keep your kids safe. In addition, you'll find personal stories shared by parents, insights for new moms and dads, ways to get involved and take action, and more.